With Valentine's Day right around the corner, sweethearts are getting ready to spoil their significant others. And as our Amanda Kelley tells us, cupid's arrow is helping to boost business higher than ever.

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WATERTOWN, N.Y. -- Local shops are getting ready for the last minute rush on flowers, chocolates and jewelry as sweethearts get ready to celebrate Valentine's Day this Tuesday. But many retailers say the rush has already begun.

Kevin Kitto, Sherwood Florist owner said, “We've seen an increase in pre-orders and an increase in the number of people just coming in and browsing and shopping."

Lorraine Guidry, Perrywinkle's Fine Jewelry store manager said, “We're seeing more traffic than last year and sales are up from last year. I don't know if that's because the advertising is better, people are more in love, or what we've advertised is better jewelry this year."

And these local businesses aren't alone. According to the National Retail Federation, spending is 8.5 percent from just last year. The average person will spend about $126 dollars spoiling their sweetheart.

And it isn't too surprising for some.

"We have had great holidays. Christmases, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day and it continues to get better so I think we expected an upturn in sales and it's living up to that expectation,” said Guidry.

However even with the increase in business, Kitto said gas prices are putting a bit of a damper on the holiday. With the average price of gas around three dollars and eighty cents a gallon, it's hard to profit from flower deliveries.

"There's no profit there at all and sometimes it can be a loss," said Kitto.

With about 300 deliveries already planned for Valentine's Day alone gas prices will play a major factor in this year's profits.

But regardless, local retailers are confident cupid will help business this month and maybe even surpass the national average for Valentine's Day sales.

Guidry said, “I'd say we're probably trending a little higher. We trended higher at Christmas than the national average and I think we'll do that at Valentine's as well."